Kinda freaked out... I need advice sisters!

Hi...

I had a tvh about 2 months ago... ever since I have had chronic pelvic pain... that is a story in itself... I have also been having problems having a "normal" bowel movement ever since... it's not like I'm constipated because my stool is soft... but I just have problems "getting it out"...

Well, tonight I had a BM... I've learned the term splinting from this site and have realized that I have had to do this for quite some time to help my BM's... after my TVH it has become worse... I have to push on the back of my vaginal wall everytime to help the stool come out... and don't get much results...

well, tonight I had a scary experience... as I was in the process of pushing and splinting to have a BM... I felt a bulge come down into my vagina... it felt like my vaginal cuff maybe? I'm thinking it was my bladder... not to be too gross but when I pushed, it felt like a soft ball coming out and it really scared me... this is the 1st time I've experienced this... it didn't hurt... just really freaked me out!

I'm sure someone has experienced this... Do you think maybe my bladder has fallen? I have an appt tomorrow to get tested for IC, so I'm definitely going to mention this... SIGH... just what I need is another surgery... but I'm almost positive it was my bladder.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Hi lolson,

I guess the splinting and problems with having a BM could be a rectocele. I have one and have similar problems. You could have a cystocele also, but I'm sure the doctor will be able to help you diagnose it. Well, just to say I hope your appointment goes well tomorrow!

I had my appt. today and they confirmed it is a rectocele... What kinds of repair or surgery do they have to do for this? I haven't spoken w/my dr. I just saw the CNP.

Thanks

I had the repair surgery for rectocele, as well as the bladder and vagina. I had a hysterectomy 9 years ago and the repair 3 weeks ago. They used the same incision as the hysterectomy, but I think the recovery is more difficult. There are stitches, mesh, etc. I had to assist bowl movements and I had the feeling that a tampon was falling out. I tried exercises, etc. but after a year and a half decided to have the surgery. When I had to choose between going for a long walk or playing tennis it was clear this was affecting my life. Go to a gyn surgeon that specializes in this procedure. They will measure you and may be able to fit you with a pessary that will give you some relief. Good luck.

Hi,

I don't know much about the surgery for a rectocele other than what I've read on most websites. Read enough about mesh to be careful about that option. Also, sometimes I noticed that the rectocele surgery does not work because there are other problems such as intussusception which need to be adressed as well. I'm glad my uro-gyn is looking into that first before going on with the surgery. I'll have my test results tomorrow and will hear what the surgery at least for the rectocele will be. Last appointment the doctors (yes...two doctors dor the exam and also to take a decision...) were also discussing my bladder issues and the uterus seemed to be dropping as well. So, I'm quite anxious if they are going to do everything in one go. I have bad symptoms so am actually quite looking forward to having things fixed. Depending on the test results they may have to correct a enterocele (small bowel dropping down) or intussusception (bowel "collapsing") which will be surgically corrected by another specialist together with the surgery performed by the uro-gyn.

I'm anxious...will loose some sleep tonight I think (did not sleep last night either).

These problems are still somewhat difficult to face, I'm still embarressed and as frank as I might be with my doctor, my soon to be husband still doesn't know most of what is going on. He will be going along to the appointment and I hope the doctor will tell him all issues so I do not have to do that myself.....does anybody else feel the same way?

I am only 3 1/2 weeks out and bowel movements were painful and frightening at first. Now I have a complete bowel movement without assistance and it feels so natual and easy.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by BurnedOut Hi, These problems are still somewhat difficult to face, I'm still embarressed and as frank as I might be with my doctor, my soon to be husband still doesn't know most of what is going on. He will be going along to the appointment and I hope the doctor will tell him all issues so I do not have to do that myself.....does anybody else feel the same way?

I've been married 28 yrs, and it was still "odd" discussing this with my husband. However, explaining exactly what I was experiencing with bms, even the gory,gross details, helped him to understand what I was going through. He's been very supportive.

Your doctor may suggest a cadaver graft instead of mesh. I have mesh from my sacral colpopexy(sp"), but was concerned about mesh for the rectocele repair. The release for surgery said a possible graft may be used, and he said he often doesn't need a graft, but if he does, for more support, he uses cadaver material. Turns out he didn't need to do any grafting.

BunredOut, I'm curious what kind of testing they are doing to determine if you have an enterocele? My urogyn found one during my hyster and repaired it, but with some of the symptoms I had before the surgery, I wonder if they were from the enterocele.

Hi jsrl247,

I had a defecogram done two weeks ago. Not a very nice test but it seems to be the one which is best for seeing a rectocele, enterocele and things such as intussusception and rectal prolapse. What were your symptoms before your surgery? I have quite alot of abdominal pain, back pain and of course the other issues associated with the rectocele.

Thanks for your, I'm sure my boyfriend will be very supportive, it's just the telling which I find hard. We've been together 23 years so it shouldn't be such an issue, but still...

Well...about to get ready for my appointment and the results of the test. I sure am nervous!

BurnedOut,

The symptoms that took me back to the urogyn were burning and pressure, which I thought was my bladder falling, but turned out to be vaginal dryness. I had also been having increasing problems emptying myself with a bm. I had this problem to a certain degree all my life, but I was also chronically constipated. Turns out I had a stage II rectocele.

When I made the decision to have a hysterectomy due to the uterine prolapse, the urogyn took a very detailed history. I explained that, for years, I only had about 5 small stools with each bm, but could have 6-7 of these a day. It got to be funny that I could count them, and sometimes, after standing up, I felt like I needed to go again. It was as if only 5 could fit in my rectum at a time. This symptom disappeared immediately after my hysterectomy. So I wondered if this was from the enterocele, or maybe just my uterus sitting on my rectum.

I am 3 wks post op from the rectocele surgery, and am mostly better, BUT have been having some of that "not emptying myself" feeling again. The urogyn did say he couldn't promise that the surgery would fix my symptom, but said I did have the defect that he could repair.

I am not sorry I had the surgery, but will have to think long and hard before I would go forward with anything else. I have been having some lower back pain the last few days. I thought I was on my feet too long with shopping and baking, but the hip pain from that went away, and now I have lower back pain. Doesn't feel like I've strained it in any way, so with the problems with bm and the back pain, I am now wondering if I have further rectal problems.

I hope you will post the results of your test. I know it's very hard to start discussions on all these bodily functions with anyone. I am hoping in 2010 that I don't have to spend my days thinking "well, that was a good bm"!

Hi jsrl247 and others....

Well I am very, very glad that the defocogram did not show a rectal prolapse or intussusception. No mention of an enterocele either. So that is for me very good news. I was so relieved.

But....somehow the doctors missed a prolapse of the uturus and the bladder was also more prolapsed then they initially thought. The uturus seems to be resting on the two bulges from the cystocele and rectocele. The doctors said that they only just noticed it now because my appointment was later in the day. The rectocele was non-emptying on the defecogram, which confirms the feeling I always have that something is still in there after a BM (sorry...)

Anyway.....they want to use sutures (or do you call them stitches...sorry English is not my native language) to tie up the uturus on I think a ligament (does anybody know the name of this procedure?) and then want to do posterior and anterior repairs and something for the stress incontinence I am experiencing. I'll be in for a night and of from work for six weeks. Surgery is sceduled for February 3rd. They will not be using mesh. If the prolapses will return they will.

My boyfriend went along and was there when the doctor explained the procedures, so he knows all the ins and out, which is also a relief.

Last hurdle is my bloodpressure which is too high (last two measurements) so I will need to do a 24 hour measurement before surgery, but I got a letter for for my GP from the doctor. We'll see about that, I've had a burnout in September of this year and think it's stress related.....and all these problems are not helping.

Well...jsrl247, your description of your BM's sound very similar to mine. It has gotten al little better now I use Metamucil every day and eat a high fibre breakfast. But still....it can take over your life every now and then can't it? I do hope things improve for you in 2010!

Going to try and get the house clean in January....some tough weeks ahead.